This might be a little long winded, so bare with me.

There's a girl in one of my college classes who is very cute. We've talked a little, just about class and assignments. My sticking point is how to get her attention without seeming like I'm trying to get her to like me. I'm good with girls when I really don't care if they like me or not, but when I want to pursue a girl I psych myself out and can't act normal.

As an example of success, before my most recent girlfriend and I started dating (she was seeing someone else at the time), we went out to dinner together and had a great time. I didn't treat her as a potential girlfriend, just a friend. No awkward pauses, no struggle on my part with anything, it just flowed naturally, and that's when attraction started to build.

But now I'm in a new city, don't have a ton of friends, and I really want to date a girl. I get all stressed out about how to approach girls that I end up just making polite conversation, not a lasting impression. I can make female friends, but then I'm in the treacherous friend-zone, where nobody wants to be.

I don't know how to treat a girl like a friend and avoid psyching myself out about things, but also avoid the friend-zone. My guy friend suggested to just stop caring and make her come to me, but if I really didn't care then I just wouldn't talk to her. How do I stop caring, but at the same time make girls attracted to me?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.